As you get to know more about wine, you will encounter a blizzard of words, which are guaranteed to confuse and dismay. Worry not. Every field of human activity tries to make the newcomer feel like a piece of cheese and the world of Wine has converted this into an art form.

Bone up on the list that follows. You can impress who ever you may wish to by seeming to be a wine geek. Increasing you'll realize that the brute majority of wine drinkers in India are on the same word-dropping trip that you are on. Then it'll become interesting. You can happily indulge in all the normal one-up-manship games, which make us Indians, such a great nation.

Read On

Acidity- Does not refer to a common digestive condition in India, but to a positive quality in wine. It does not mean that the wine is sour, but that it possesses a degree of tartness.

Aftertaste- The lingering flavour a wine leaves in your mouth after you swallow it. The longer it lasts, the better the wine.

Balance- The major components of fruitiness, acidity and alcohol will all be in harmony in the good wines. None of these elements will be overpowering.

Chewy- A term used to describe a rich red wine with the right amount of tannin in them. Also called "big" or "meaty". Tannins are these chemicals which are present in the skin of the red grapes and which give red wine its longevity.

Cooked- This means that the wine tastes coarse like stewed or over-cooked fruit. It's a negative aspect.

Corked- A distinctive musty smell. If you get a bottle that is corked, it means that the wine has had it.

Crisp- Normally used for white wine, it indicates a fresh, clean quality.

Fruity- When the flavour of the grape is evident in the wine. One way of checking out what we mean is to put a very small quantity of vodka (say 5 ml) into a glass of Tropicana grape juice. A positive attribute.

Flowery- Tastes of flower blossoms (so they say- the only flower I remember having consumed is cauliflower).

Green- Tastes like unripe fruit.

Mean. Or thin. Low on fruit or flavour (like most Indian wines).

Nose- Literally the smell. It may be called the aroma in young wines or the bouquet in mature wines.

Oaky- Good quality wines may be aged in oak barrels. The flavour of the wood in the barrels rubs off ob the wines. Normally a positive attribute, unless its overdone.

Tannic- A trait in red wines. It is a very harsh astringent quality often found in young red wines. Imagine drinking strong black tea. There is this harsh sensation at the sides of you mouth. That is tannins at work.

Also see :- Tasting & Drinking.